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08 Jun 17. UK General Election: Final Result. The General Election on 8 Jun 17 resulted in a ‘hung Parliament.’ The distribution of seats is as follows:-
. Conservative: 318 seats – a loss of 13
. Labour: 262 seats – a gain of 30
. Scottish National: 35 seats – a loss of 21
. Liberal Democrat: 12 seats – a gain of 4
. Democratic Unionist: 10 seats – a gain of 2
. Sinn Fein: 7 seats – a gain of 3
. Plaid Cymru: 4 seats – a gain of 1
. Green: 1 seat – no change
. Independent: 1 seat – no change
. Social Democratic & Labour: Nil – a loss of 3
. Ulster Unionist: Nil – a loss of 2
. UKIP: Nil – a loss of 1
Comment: The vote share was calculated to be 42.4% Conservative and 40.0% Labour. Having failed to win a working majority (326 seats), the Prime Minister has intimated that she will form a Government with the
assistance of the 10 Democratic Unionists. As media commentators have noted, however, the Prime Minister’s own position remains uncertain. One way or another, it is going to be a long Summer! (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 17/22, 12 June 17)
09 Jun 17. UK Cabinet Posts: Senior Appointments. The Prime Minister confirmed (9 Jun 17) the following Cabinet positions after the General Election:-
. Chancellor of the Exchequer: The Rt Hon P Hammond MP
. Secretary of State for the Home Department: The Rt Hon A A Rudd MP
. Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs: The Rt Hon A B de P Johnson MP
. Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union: The Rt Hon D M Davis MP
. Secretary of State for Defence: The Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon KCB MP
Comment: Further appointments will, presumably, involve the Prime Minister in a certain amount of ‘horse-Trading’ with the Democratic Unionists. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 17/22, 12 June 17)
06 Jun 17. Iraq and Syria: OP SHADER. On 31 May 17 Tornados and Typhoons attacked two terrorist targets in Western Mosul and one near Raqqa.
On 1 Jun 17 Tornados and Typhoons supported Iraqi troops in Mosul, hitting nine Daesh targets and on 2 Jun 17 both types of aircraft were involved in destroying an armoured truck near Raqqa as well as attacking eight targets in Mosul. On 3 Jun 17 a Reaper struck a group of terrorists and an armoured truck West of Kirkuk and five targets in Mosul. On the following day Tornados and Typhoons engaged three Daesh positions in Mosul while on 5 Jun 17 Typhoons attacked a Daesh-held building in Eastern Raqqa and Tornados hit two terrorist firing points in Mosul. (MoD, 6 Jun 17.)
Comment: The MoD notes that the RAF continues to conduct “intensive operations….particularly in Western Mosul and around Raqqa”. Operations on 4 Jun 17 included use of “a Brimstone to deal with a sniper”. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 17/22, 12 June 17)
02 Jun 17. South Sudan: Military Support. RAF News (2 Jun 17) reported that a team of eight RAF medical personnel have joined British troops in South Sudan “to support the UN peacekeeping mission”. There are now 240 British personnel in South Sudan, bringing the UN presence in the Country to over 1,800. UK Forces are to build a field hospital in Bentiu which will be staffed by British medical teams. Other UK assistance includes the construction of a helicopter site and a jetty on the River Nile. The total number of UK military deployed to South Sudan is set to rise to nearly 400.
Comment: The Foreign Office Minister Baroness Anelay visited South Sudan, as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative, from 21 to 24 May 17. On a visit to the town of Malakal the Minister spoke to British troops
deployed with UNMISS (UN Mission In South Sudan), who are providing engineering and medical support. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 17/22, 12 June 17) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 1